Bible Briefs

J O H N   W.   M O O R E 196 TIMES For as long as I have known him, he has been a good man. It is easy to see that he loves his wife and that she is in love with him. He and his wife reared loving children who themselves have wonderful families. Unless he is sick, he is always in attendance when the church gathers for worship. He is benevolent, friendly, and concerned for others of all races and nationalities. Through various crises, he has been an unshaken tower of faith. Those who knew him before his retirement describe him as hard working, honest, and dependable. He is respected by people of the community and is known for his good works. I have never known him to take advantage of anyone. He loves God and wants others to love Him as well. Who is this good man? Knowing his humility, he would not want me to divulge his name but many of you have seen him around town, at various sporting events, and of course at church. After last Sunday’s sermon, I was reminded again why this man is so great. I had been preaching about growing in faith and how that Bible study is an essential part of that development. I challenged the congregation to not only make daily appointments with God for prayer but also for hearing His word. I also challenged them to hold me accountable for daily personal Bible study by requesting that they inquire of me - each time they see me – if I am indeed studying my Bible daily. Later, while discussing the challenge with this good man, I discovered that he has read through the New Testament 196 times and is again reading it through. He also regularly studies the Old Testament, reads Christian literature, and prays. I know now why he is such a good man. May all of us give this kind of “attention to reading” (I Tim. 4:13) and to becoming knowledgeable in the scripture (2 Tim. 2:15). Your family, our community, and our world are depending on you.